Western cyclone., 1887-07-15
THE PRESIDENT DECLINES
HE WILL NOT ATTEND THE @,
A. r. ENCAMPMENT
His Reasons for Not Accepting the InVI.
tation Explained at Length
The Letter.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, July S-The following ex-
tracts from letter addressed to the mayor
Of this city explains itself without further
comment:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON. D. c.,
July 4, l637.-THE Hon. DAVID r. FRANCIS,
MAYOR AND CHAIRMAN-AY DEAR SIR:
When received the extremely cordial and
gratifying invitation from the citizens Of St.
Louis, rendered by a number of her repre-
sentative men, to visit that city during the
national encampment Of the Grand Army OF
the Republic L had been contemplating for
some time the acceptance of an invitation
from that organization to the same effect, and
had considered tie pleasure which it would
afford me, if it should be possible, to meetnOt
only members of the Grand Army but the
people of st. Louis and other cities III the
West which the occasion would give me an
opportunity to visit. The exactiOns Of my
public duties l fet TO be so uncertain, how
ever, that when first confronted Ly the dele
cation Of whom you We're the head expected
to do no more at that time than to promise
the consideration Of the double invitation
! rendered me and express the pleasure it
would give me to accept the same thereafter
if possible.
immediately upon the public announce
ment Of this conclusion expressions emanat-
ing from certain important members of the
| Grand Army of the Republic and increas-
ing Ill volume and viIlIlence, constrained me
10 review my acceptance of these invita-
tons. The expressions referred to 90 t. the
extent of declaring that l would be an un-
welcome guest at tie time and place of the
National encampment. = These EXPIRES
sions to which have referred indicate such
| prevalence OF unfriendly feeling and such
! a menace to an occasion which should be
harmonious, peaceful, and cordial that they
can not be ignored. The threats
of personal violence and harm in case l un-
dertake the trip in question, which scores of
misguided, unblemished men under the slim
ulation of excited feeling have made. are
not even considered. If, however, among
the membership of this body there are some,
| as certainly seems to be the case, determined
! to denounce me and my official acts at the
National Encampment, believe they should
be permitted to DO SO unrestrained bv my
presence as a guest OF their organization, or
as guest of the hospitable city in which
/ their meeting is held. The time
and place of the encampment were fixed
| long before my invitations were received.
! Those desiring to participate in its proceed
/ ASS SAOuiu De ufSU Gegarued, anu nothing
should DO permitted to interfere with their
intentions.
"Another consideration OF more import
ance than all others remains TO be noticed.
The fact was referred to by you when YOU
| verbally presented the invitation of the citi-
Zens OF st. Louis that the coming encamp-
ment Of the Grand Army Of the Republic
would be the first held i'll a Southern State.
/ cannot rid myself of the belief
1 that the least discord on this propitious occa-
! sion might retard the progress Of the senti-
ment Of common brotherhood which the
/ Grand Army Of the Republic has so good an
! oppoT; y to increase and foster. ] certain
! " ought not to be the cause of such discord in
| any event or upon any pretext =
assure you that l abandon my plan without
the least personal feeling except regret, con-
strained thereto by a sense of duty, actuated
by desire TO save any embarrassment to
the people of st. Louis or their expected
| guests, ard with heart full Of grateful ap-
! probation Of the sincere and unaffected
kindness of your citizens. Hoping the en-
campment may be an occasion OF much use
! fuinesS, and that its proceedings may Illus
| trate the highest patriotism of American cit
/ izenship, am yours, very sincerely.
o.